Fed Funds Approved for 26-Mile Southern Illinois Off-Road Highway

A press release from Governor Bruce Rauner:

Gov. Rauner: Sahara Woods to be great off-road rider draw

Federal grant of $1.2 million to fund 26-mile trail system at wildlife area near Harrisburg

CARRIER MILLS (Nov. 15, 2017) — A new project will make southern Illinois a destination for off-road riders, Gov. Rauner said while announcing development of a 26-mile off-highway vehicle trail system at Sahara Woods State Fish and Wildlife Area.

“Demand is growing for off-highway vehicle recreation, and this state-of-the-art facility will give riders from across the Midwest a place to enjoy the outdoors,” Rauner said. “Not only will this trail bring additional resources to southern Illinois, it’ll also put Illinois on the map when it comes to offering diverse outdoor experience for riders of all ages.”

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources received a $1.2 million grant from the federal Recreational Trails Program (RTP), which allows the state agency to move forward with the project. IDNR will pitch in an additional $303,000 from its state parks fund to complete the trail.

This will be the first state-owned off-highway vehicle trail facility.

IDNR will oversee design and development of the project. The setting is ideal, agency Director Wayne Rosenthal said.

“There used to be a coal mine at Sahara Woods,” Rosenthal said of the location, which is just west of Harrisburg. “The topography of the reclaimed, strip-mined land will allow us to develop some challenging trails that should attract a lot of interest from OHV enthusiasts.”

Some mine reclamation projects already are ongoing at the site, including interior roadway and boat-access development, as well as openings for limited fishing and hunting programs. State Sen. Dale Fowler, R-Harrisburg, said the wildlife area already is a southern Illinois gem, one the new trail system will aid in promoting.

“Expanding on the treasures that Sahara Woods already offers could translate into increased job opportunities and a much-needed economic boost for the region,” Fowler said. “It will go a long way in boosting tourism in Saline County, giving us a platform to continue promoting southern Illinois in the future.”

Federal RTP grants are funded through a portion of motor fuel excise taxes collected from non-highway recreational use, including all-terrain vehicles, off-highway motorcycles, and snowmobiles. Federal law requires that a portion of each state’s RTP funding must be earmarked for motorized trail projects, including trail construction, support facilities, and restoration of areas adjacent to trails.

The recreational area is expected to be ready for riders in spring 2019.


Comments

Fed Funds Approved for 26-Mile Southern Illinois Off-Road Highway — 2 Comments

  1. Has Rauner finally gone nuts?

    Why do we need government/taxpayer funding for trails for vehicles, probably gasoline powered, to violate nature?

    Why not trails with minimum disruption to the environment that ONLY allow walking and hiking.

    This is one situation where Al Gore and the tree huggers no doubt would come out against and that any “reasonable” citizen would agree with.

  2. Carrier Mills and the Sahara Woods State Fish & Wildlife Area are in Saline County in far southeastern Illinois in the middle of nowhere, about 6.5 hours south of McHenry County.

    The Sahara Coal Mine closed in the 1990’s.

    The majority of the locals will probably welcome the tourism and business generated from off highway vehicle (OHV) use of land formerly strip mined.

    Permitted vehicles in OHV facilities typically include off road motorcycles and 4 wheel all terrain vehicles (ATV’s), and often does not include Jeeps, SUVs, & 4 wheel drive trucks.

    There are public and private ATV/OHV parks throughout the United States.

    riderplanet-usa.com

    +++++++

    The nearby Shawnee National Forest provides backpacking and day hiking trails, but no ATV trails.

    http://www.fs.usda.gov/shawnee

    +++++++

    The Southern Illinoisan

    Rauner Announces Plans for Off-Road Vehicle Trail System on Reclaimed Saline County Strip Mine

    November 15, 2017

    by Molly Parker

    thesouthern.com/news/local/rauner-announces-plans-for-off-road-vehicle-trail-system-on/article_84a23e9d-5fa3-52f3-88d1-aedb8cd67ea5.html

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *